First-ever televised presidential debate to air in Egypt

Egyptians will see the first ever televised presidential debate between candidates vying for Egypt's presidency on Thursday, AFP reported, as the country gears up for elections on May 23 and 24.

Candidates Amr Moussa, who was a foreign minister under ousted president Hosni Mubarak and the Arab League chief until last year, and independent Islamist candidate Abdel Moneim Aboul Fotouh will face off in a debate that will be aired on two private Egyptian television channels, AFP said.

According to a poll conducted by Egypt's Al-Ahram newspaper and published last Monday, Moussa and Fotouh are leading the race which includes 11 other candidates including the Muslim Brotherhood's Mohamed Mursi and the former prime minister and air force chief, Ahmed Shafiq.